NameCensus.

UK surname

Willams

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Willams surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 174, ranked #21,466, down from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Llanbeblig and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, Hackney and East Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Willams is 378 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.0%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

174

2016, ranked #21,466

Peak year

1891

378 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Willams had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016, ranked #21,466.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 378 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Willams surname distribution map

The map shows where the Willams surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Willams surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Willams over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 210 #10,030
1861 historical 357 #7,155
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 378 #9,277
1901 historical 187 #15,793
1911 historical 335 #10,584
1997 modern 80 #29,554
1998 modern 68 #31,181
1999 modern 71 #31,036
2000 modern 71 #31,082
2001 modern 62 #31,798
2002 modern 62 #32,214
2003 modern 68 #31,689
2004 modern 80 #30,679
2005 modern 82 #30,617
2006 modern 82 #30,933
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 92 #30,286
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 164 #22,325
2016 modern 174 #21,466

Geography

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Where Willams' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Llanbeblig, St Pancras, Manchester and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, Hackney, East Devon, Sandwell and Herefordshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Llanbeblig Carnarvonshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 001 Hambleton
2 Hackney 001 Hackney
3 East Devon 020 East Devon
4 Sandwell 004 Sandwell
5 Herefordshire 004 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Willams

These lists show first names that appear often with the Willams surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Willams

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Willams, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Willams surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Willams household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Willams is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Willams is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Willams falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Willams is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Willams, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Willams families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Willams surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Glamorgan leads with 19 Willams' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.64x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 19 9.64x
Denbighshire 16 37.44x
Lancashire 11 0.82x
Yorkshire 11 0.98x
Surrey 10 1.81x
Merionethshire 8 38.65x
Caernarfonshire 7 15.30x
Middlesex 7 0.62x
Brecknockshire 5 22.09x
Herefordshire 5 10.78x
Cornwall 3 2.34x
Monmouthshire 3 3.67x
Berkshire 2 2.35x
Shropshire 2 2.05x
Anglesey 1 4.99x
Cheshire 1 0.40x
Gloucestershire 1 0.45x
Hampshire 1 0.43x
Suffolk 1 0.73x
Wiltshire 1 1.00x
Worcestershire 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanguick in Glamorgan leads with 15 Willams' recorded in 1881 and an index of 424.93x.

Place Total Index
Llanguick 15 424.93x
Skipton 7 198.30x
Llangollen Cysyllte 6 2142.86x
Bermondsey 5 14.85x
Llandrillo Faerdref 5 8333.33x
Llanrwst Capel Garmon 5 1470.59x
Newington 5 11.96x
Whitchurch 5 1785.71x
Castleton 4 29.83x
Limehouse London 4 32.21x
Llangunider 4 283.69x
Llaniestyn 4 1111.11x
Dolgelley 3 194.81x
Goldcliff 3 3333.33x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 3 106.01x
Llansantffraid Glan 3 666.67x
Aberdare 2 14.79x
Everton 2 4.67x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 10.56x
North Meols 2 15.22x
Reading St Giles 2 24.01x
St Ive 2 243.90x
Brotton 1 68.49x
Clynnog 1 158.73x
Ellesmere 1 59.52x
Gresford Llay 1 476.19x
Heston 1 26.60x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 21.37x
Kensington London 1 1.59x
Leigh 1 55.87x
Liverpool 1 1.23x
Llanberis 1 84.75x
Llanelly 1 36.90x
Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd 1 232.56x
Llanfihangel Esceifiog 1 285.71x
Maenan 1 588.24x
Oswestry Rural 1 66.67x
Oxton 1 70.92x
Pendleton In Salford 1 6.25x
Roche 1 153.85x
St George In East 1 12.99x
Swindon 1 12.89x
Tewkesbury 1 50.51x
Ventnor 1 45.25x
Walton On Hill 1 13.76x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Willams surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Jane 11
Sarah 7
Mary 6
Ann 5
Margaret 5
Elizabeth 3
Alice 2
Ellen 2
Catherine 1
Deannah 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Juan 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
M.Jane 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Willams surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 12
Thomas 7
William 6
Robert 5
Richard 4
David 3
Edward 3
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Johnny 2
Willam 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
George 1
Gerald 1
Griffith 1
Gruffith 1
Henry 1
Lewis 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Willams surname: questions and answers

How common was the Willams surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Willams surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Willams surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 174 in 2016. That gives Willams a modern rank of #21,466.

What does the Willams map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Willams bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.